The LaSalle Tigers continued their district run last week and are looking to be in the playoff picture by the time it’s all said and done. In order to keep the hope alive, they needed to win at least two of the three games they had on their schedule last week and they did exactly that.
In doing so, they have reached 10+ wins for the first time in quite a while under the duo of Head Coach Michael Duke and Assistant Coach David Rader. Being a younger team has its disadvantages but as of this week, it seems as if their vision for this season has come together well.
The first game last week was against Northwood- Lena on Tuesday, February 3 in Olla.
Northwood is a talented squad that is ranked #15 in Div. IV Select. The Tigers have been sound defensively all season and have mastered the art of slowing the game down to the pace they like to go. The Northwood game would be no different. The Gators, however, are a tough team to stop in transition and behind the arc and they would match the Tigers’ intensity and get the best of them this time with the final score Northwood 51 – LaSalle 27.
The bad luck from the previous night would not carry over however as the Tigers had a score to settle against Dodson. The previous matchup was a heartbreaking loss for the Tigers as Dodson caught fire behind the arc and hit a timely three to put the game away. This tie-breaker game held Thursday night, February 5 in Olla, was exciting in the early stages as both teams answered each other’s offensive runs. However, as the time went on, it was clear the Tigers had revenge on their mind and put their foot to the pedal and ran away with it 68-45 giving the Tigers the edge in the three-game series both schools had going this season.
To end the week, the LaSalle Tigers had one final district matchup against the St. Mary’s Tigers (LaSalle is moving into a new district later this year – a district without St. Mary’s). It was a packed crowd in Natchitoches, and the student section was a bit rowdy. With every mistake made came in an echo of jokes and/or chants, but their involvement in the game would die out quickly as they realized no amount of cheering would get them a win in this one.
St. Mary’s jumped out to an early lead by getting a good bit of second chance points as well as they also sprinkled in some successful midrange shots. Once the game plan was figured out by LaSalle, the steals came quick, fast, and in a hurry, along with the momentum. The Tigers could not be stopped in the paint and did a very good job getting stops themselves and worked a nice 20+-point win in a tough place to play. The final score from the longstanding district rivalry matchup’s last game was LaSalle 54 – St. Mary’s 32.
This week is crucial to these young men’s playoff hopes as they take the very long drive almost to Texas to play against Logansport and look to solidify their playoff standings. That district game was played Tuesday, February 10 and their final regular season and district game will be against a talented Montgomery squad at home in Olla Thursday, February 12.
The LaSalle Tigers are currently ranked #26 in the power point standings of Div. IV Non-Select, meaning their playoff dreams are alive and well. However, one or two more wins this week will help.
Please show up and give your support to this talented young team and as always – Go Tigers!
This week’s Tigers sports page is sponsored by CLB The Community Bank.
